PostgreSQL, like any database
software, requires that certain tasks be performed regularly to
achieve optimum performance. The tasks discussed here are
required, but they are
repetitive in nature and can easily be automated using standard
tools such as cron scripts or
Windows' Task Scheduler. It is
the database administrator's responsibility to set up appropriate
scripts, and to check that they execute successfully.

One obvious maintenance task is the creation of backup copies
of the data on a regular schedule. Without a recent backup, you
have no chance of recovery after a catastrophe (disk failure,
fire, mistakenly dropping a critical table, etc.). The backup and
recovery mechanisms available in PostgreSQL are discussed at length in
Chapter 24.

The other main category of maintenance task is periodic
"vacuuming" of the database. This
activity is discussed in Section
23.1. Closely related to this is updating the statistics that
will be used by the query planner, as discussed in Section
23.1.3.

Another task that might need periodic attention is log file
management. This is discussed in Section 23.3.

check_postgres is
available for monitoring database health and reporting unusual
conditions. check_postgres
integrates with Nagios and MRTG, but can be run standalone
too.

PostgreSQL is low-maintenance
compared to some other database management systems. Nonetheless,
appropriate attention to these tasks will go far towards ensuring
a pleasant and productive experience with the system.